Windows Internet Explorer includes several command-line options that enable you to troubleshoot and configure the browser. This topic describes the options that Internet Explorer supports.
Supported Command-Line Options
The following declaration shows the command-line definition for Internet Explorer.
iexplore.exe [ [ -embedding ]
[ -extoff ]
[ -framemerging ]
[ -k ]
[ -noframemerging ]
[ -nohangrecovery ]
[ -private ] ]
[ URL ]
The following table describes the supported command-line options for Internet Explorer.
|
Command-line option |
Description |
| -embedding | Starts Internet Explorer through OLE embedding (such as the WebBrowser Control). |
| -extoff | Internet Explorer 7 and later versions. Starts Internet Explorer in No Add-ons mode, which you can use to troubleshoot problems with browser add-ons. For more information, see Troubleshooting Internet Explorer Add-ons. |
| -framemerging | Internet Explorer 8 and later versions. Enables Internet Explorer to opportunistically merge new frame processes into existing frame processes. For more information, see Internet Explorer 8 and Reliability. |
| -k | Starts Internet Explorer in kiosk mode. The browser opens in a maximized window that does not display the address bar, the navigation buttons, or the status bar. |
| -noframemerging | Internet Explorer 8 and later versions. Prevents Internet Explorer from opportunistically merging new frame processes into existing frame processes. |
| -nohangrecovery | Internet Explorer 9. Prevents Internet Explorer from restarting a tab when it stops responding. This option enables application developers to use debugging tools to investigate problems with Browser Helper Objects (BHOs), Microsoft ActiveX controls, and other browser extentions. |
| -private | Internet Explorer 8 and later versions. Starts Internet Explorer with InPrivate Browsing set to active. For more information, see IE Blog: Online Privacy, Tracking, and InPrivate Filtering. |
| URL | Navigates to the page or resource that you specify as URL, after Internet Explorer opens. |
Superseded, Deprecated, and Obsolete Options
Some command-line options that earlier Internet Explorer versions supported are not supported in later versions of the browser because of one of the following reasons:
-
An option is replaced by another option. (That is, the option has been superseded.)
-
An option is recognized by the browser, but it does not function like it used to or we no longer recommend that you use it. (That is, the option is deprecated.)
-
An option is no longer recognized by the browser and might generate error conditions if you use it. (That is, the option is obsolete.)
The following table lists command-line options that are no longer supported and that you should not use.
|
Command–line option |
Status |
| -channelband | Obsolete as of Internet Explorer 7. |
| -e | Obsolete as of Internet Explorer 7. |
| -eval | Obsolete as of Internet Explorer 7. |
| -nomerge | Available in pre-release versions of Internet Explorer 8. This option has been superseded by the -noframemerging option that is described in the earlier table. |
| -new | Obsolete as of Internet Explorer 7. |
| -nowait | Obsolete as of Internet Explorer 7. |
| -remote | Obsolete as of Internet Explorer 8. |
| -v | Obsolete as of Internet Explorer 8. |
| -version | Obsolete as of Internet Explorer 8. |
Related Topics
Reference: Internet Explorer Command-Line Options
